Chinese Medicine Research Articles

The Effects of Health Education Model Based on Goal-setting Theory on lifestyle, Diet and Nutrition, and Psychological Regulation of Thyroid Cancer Patients after Surgery

Objective: The effects of a health education model based on goal-setting theory on lifestyle, diet and nutrition, and psychological regulation of thyroid cancer patients after surgery. Methods: A total of 60 thyroid cancer patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 1, 2020 ~ December 31, 2023 were selected and grouped.They were divided into 30 observation groups and 30 control groups based on the principle that baseline data between groups could be compared. Patients in both groups were given routine postoperative care for thyroid cancer, and on this basis, the control group was given routine health education intervention, and the observation group was given health education intervention based on goal-setting theory. Both groups were intervened until discharge, and both groups were followed up for 1 month after discharge. Before the intervention and one week after the intervention, the self-made disease knowledge questionnaire and the self-management assessment scale of cancer patients were used to evaluate the disease knowledge, self-management ability and quality of life of the two groups. The compliance of patients with rehabilitation exercises, hoarseness, tetany and quality of life before intervention and at the end of follow-up were observed. Results: After 1 month of intervention, there were significant differences between the observation group and the normal control group in terms of disease knowledge knowledge score, self-efficacy, control of daily living habits, treatment of disease symptoms, and management of psychological adjustment (P<0.05). In the process of intervention, the compliance of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and there was a significant difference, (P<0.05). At the end of the follow-up, the symptoms of hoarseness, tetany and dyspnea in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Finally, the two groups were significantly better than the control group in terms of physiological, psychological, functional exercise and special scores (P<0.05). Conclusion: Health education based on goal-setting theory has high application value in thyroid cancer surgery patients, which can improve patients' awareness of the disease, improve patients' rehabilitation compliance and self-management ability, and promote the recovery and improvement of postoperative living standards.

Application of Polydopamine-Based Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction for Highly Sensitive Determination of Aristolochic Acid I from Traditional Chinese Medicine Samples.

A low cost-effective and simple synthesis method combining magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) and high-pressure liquid chromatography was developed for the analysis of aristolochic acids I (AAI) in traditional Chinese medicine samples. A novel polydopamine (PDA) modified magnetic nanoparticles with one single carbon layer (Fe3O4@1C NPs) via one-pot hydrothermal approach was prepared and then successfully employed to extract AAI for the first time. Dopamine (DA) can form a PDA layer on Fe3O4@1C NPs surface through self-polymerization to form Fe3O4@1C@PDA. As a surface modifier of DA, PDA offered more adsorption sites to AAI due to π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. The parameters of MSPE were optimized by univariate and multivariate methods (Box-Behnken design) in detail. High degree of linearity was obtained in the range of 0.05-200.0μg/mL. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) and quantification (S/N = 10) were 0.08 and 0.25μg/mL, respectively. The recoveries of AAI in spiked Xiaoqinglong mixture samples were in the range of 86.7 to 108.5% with the relative standard deviation of less than 5.2%. Thus, a fast, convenient, sensitive and eco-friendly method was successfully proposed and became a promising approach for the determination of AAI in herbal plants or its preparation in the manufacturing procedure.

Genome-wide identification of a MADS-box transcription factor family and their expression during floral development in Coptis teeta wall

BackgroundMADS-box transcription factors have been shown to be involved in multiple developmental processes, including the regulation of floral organ formation and pollen maturation. However, the role of the MADS-box gene family in floral development of the alpine plant species Coptis teeta Wall, which is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is unknown.ResultsSixty-six MADS-box genes were identified in the C. teeta genome. These genes were shown to be unevenly distributed throughout the genome of C. teeta. The majority of which (49) were classified as type I MADS-box genes and were further subdivided into four groups (Mα, Mβ, Mγ and Mδ). The remainder were identified as belonging to the type II MADS-box gene category. It was observed that four pairs of segmental and tandem duplication had occurred in the C. teeta MADS-box gene family, and that the ratios of Ka/Ks were less than 1, suggesting that these genes may have experienced purifying selection during evolution. Gene expression profiling analysis revealed that 38 MADS-box genes displayed differential expression patterns between the M and F floral phenotypes. Sixteen of these MADS-box genes were further verified by RT-qPCR. The 3D structure of each subfamily gene was predicted, further indicating that MADS-box genes of the same type possess structural similarities to the known template.ConclusionsThese data provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of dichogamy and herkogamy formation in C. teeta and establish a solid foundation for future studies of the MADS-box genes family in this medicinal plant species.

Research Progress on the Treatment of Vascular Vertigo with Active Ingredients of Pueraria Lobata

Vascular vertigo is a common disease among middle-aged and elderly patients with vertigo, caused by cerebrovascular diseases, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Its pathogenesis is diverse, and there is still a lack of clear and effective therapeutic drugs in clinical practice. Pueraria lobata, as a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for treating brain diseases, is widely used in clinical practice and has great development prospects. By summarizing the network pharmacology and clinical medication rules of vascular vertigo, it was found that Pueraria lobata is a high-frequency single traditional Chinese medicine for treating this disease. Modern pharmacological research has found that the main components of Pueraria lobata, such as isoflavones, triterpenes, coumarins, and alkaline compounds, can all play a preventive and therapeutic role in vascular dizziness. This article summarizes the published domestic and foreign papers and experiments, and takes the pathogenesis of vascular vertigo and the pharmacological characteristics of Pueraria lobata as a breakthrough point. Through sorting, it was found that Pueraria lobata exerts pharmacological effects in improving vascular endothelial function, regulating lipid metabolism, anticoagulation and antithrombotic effects, inhibiting oxidative stress, and regulating inflammatory reactions, and has significant effects on the clinical treatment of vascular vertigo.

Analysis of MDA, SOD, TAOC, MNCV, SNCV, and TSS scores in patients with diabetes peripheral neuropathy.

To explore the impact of score in patients with diabetes peripheral neuropathy (DPN) treated with traditional Chinese medicine package (TCMP) plus red light therapy and lipoic acid on malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV), and Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TSS). A total of 108 patients with DPN hospitalized in the hospital were chosen and divided into groups with the random number table. In the control group (CG) 54 patients were treated with conventional lipoic acid, and 54 patients in the experimental group (EG) accepted TCMP plus red light on the basis of the CG. The MDA, SOD, TAOC, MNCV, SNCV, and TSS scores before treatment and after treatment were compared between the two groups. Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of oxidation indicators, nerve conduction velocity, and symptom scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the MDA in the EG was lower than that in the CG, with a statistical significance difference (P < 0.05). The SOD and TAOC in the EG were higher than those in the CG, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The MNCV and SNCV of median nerve, common peroneal nerve, and tibial nerve in the EG were significantly higher than those in the CG (P < 0.05). The TSS score of the EG was lower than that of the CG, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The treatment of patients with DPN with lipoic acid plus TCMP and red light therapy can improve the symptoms and signs of disease, promote the recovery of motor and sensory conduction velocity, and optimize the body oxidation indicators.

Research Progress on the Pharmacological Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Danshen in the Treatment of Cerebral Ischemic Stroke

Cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS) is an acute cerebrovascular disease characterized by focal neurological deficits. Many modern scholars believe that the pathogenesis of CIS is related to factors such as endothelial injury, oxidative stress imbalance, neuroinflammation, cell apoptosis and autophagy, calcium overload, and excessive accumulation of oxygen free radicals. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the pathogenesis of CIS is obstructed meridians, phlegm and blood stasis, and obstruction of the brain and orifices. Danshen, as a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in clinical practice, has the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, unblocking meridians and relieving pain, clearing the heart and eliminating restlessness, cooling blood and eliminating carbuncle. In addition, modern pharmacological research has found that the specific pharmacological components of Salvia miltiorrhiza include tanshinone, salvianolic acid, shikimic acid, danshensu, protocatechualdehyde, etc. It has antioxidant stress, regulation of cell autophagy, anti-inflammatory factors, antiplatelet aggregation, and protection of vascular endothelium. This article aims to analyze and summarize the pharmacological mechanism of salvia miltiorrhiza in treating CIS, providing scientific basis for clinical application of salvia miltiorrhiza in treating CIS.

A Network Pharmacological Study of Qianjin Sanhuang Decoction in the Treatment of Osteoarthritic Knee Disease

Objective: To predict the action targets of Qianjin Sanhuang decoction in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis through network pharmacology, to explore its potential multi component, multi target, multi, pathway mechanism of action, and to elaborate the relationship between the pharmacological effects of the drug and the disease from the perspective of molecular mechanism. Methods: The Chinese herbal composition of Qianjin Sanhuang decoction was determined by reading ancient texts and reviewing data, and the chemical components of Qianjin Sanhuang decoction were collected through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and the active ingredients of the drug were obtained after oral utilization (OB) and drug-like properties (DL) screening, and the active ingredient target prediction was performed, while the active ingredient targets were retrieved from GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNet database to retrieve knee osteoarthritis-related targets. After taking the intersecting targets, a software called cytoscape 3.9.0 was used for mapping, with the goal of constructing a component-target network map, followed by a string database for mapping, with the goal of making a network map of target protein-target protein interactions, and finally, a gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, this analysis process was performed in the metascape database. Results: A total of 1272 targets related to osteoarthritis of the knee were collected in this study, 89 active ingredients of Qianjin Sanhuang decoction, involving 267 targets, and 121 therapeutic targets involving osteoarthritis of the knee, and the results of GO enrichment analysis showed that it involved the response to inorganic substances, positive regulation of cell migration, response to oxygen content, response to lipopolysaccharide, response to peptides, regulation of cell adhesion, response to extracellular stimuli, negative regulation of cell differentiation, positive regulation of cell death, glandular development, regulation of apoptotic signaling pathways, development of reproductive structures, response to trauma, response to growth factors, regulation of inflammatory response, cellular response to organic recycling compounds, regulation of proteolysis, etc. After KEGG analysis, the results showed that signaling pathways such as AGE-RAGE pathway and HIF-1 pathway were involved. Conclusion: Qianjin Sanhuang decoction can improve the inflammatory response of knee osteoarthritis through potential multi-pathways, multi-targets and multi-pathways, and can have potential therapeutic effects on osteoarthritis.

Research Progress of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Post-Stroke Depression

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a prevalent complication in stroke survivors, characterized by persistent mood disorders that hinder rehabilitation and reduce quality of life. This study examines recent scholarly endeavors focusing on acupuncture (AC) as a feasible therapeutic approach for PSD. By analyzing contemporary literature, it elucidates the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective on PSD and evaluates AC's effectiveness. AC stands out as a promising modality of treatment owing to its potency and negligible side effects, with mechanisms including neurotransmitter modulation, neurotrophic factor regulation, neuronal apoptosis inhibition, inflammatory response modulation, and so on. This review offers valuable insights into PSD from a TCM perspective and highlights AC's potential as a therapeutic intervention, contributing to knowledge advancement and informing clinical practice in PSD management.

The Theoretical and Practical Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia, as an age-related skeletal muscle mass and strength decline in the elderly syndrome, seriously affects the quality of life of patients. In recent years, with the aggravation of aging in China, the incidence of sarcopenia is gradually increasing. The research on sarcopenia in traditional Chinese medicine is also deepening, and relatively rich experience and results have been achieved. This paper summarizes and expounds the theoretical research and intervention methods of traditional Chinese medicine for sarcopenia by combing the relevant literature. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current status of its theoretical research and to look forward to the future development trend, so that the etiology and mechanism of sarcopenia in TCM can be further explored and the treatment plan can be optimized, and more possibilities for the treatment of sarcopenia in TCM can be provided in the future research.

Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Sepsis Gastrointestinal Dysfunction

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) caused by infection. Further development can lead to severe sepsis, septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction or failure. Gastrointestinal dysfunction is one of the common complications. Reviewing the domestic literature, it is found that in recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has accumulated a large number of clinical research data in the treatment of sepsis gastrointestinal dysfunction, and has achieved good results. This article briefly summarizes the etiology and pathogenesis of gastrointestinal dysfunction in sepsis and the treatment of traditional Chinese medicine, in order to provide reference for further clinical research in the future.

On the Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture in Ideological and Political Education

Purpose: By analyzing the historical origin and value of Traditional Chinese medicine culture, the article studies the application of Traditional Chinese medicine culture in postgraduate students' ideological and political education, with a view to promoting the deeper inheritance and development of Traditional Chinese medicine culture. Methods: The article explains the importance and feasibility of Traditional Chinese medicine culture in postgraduate students' ideological and political education, and the difficulties in the application of ideological and political education, on the basis of which it proposes to improve the civic system of the course, improve the quality of professional teachers of Traditional Chinese medicine culture and civic teachers, and establish a collaborative educating mechanism with the help of the resource-sharing platform, so as to deepen the postgraduates' understanding of Traditional Chinese medicine culture in the ideological and political education course. Conclusion: Graduate students' ideological and political education courses provide a good platform for the dissemination and development of Traditional Chinese medicine culture, and the two are complementary to each other. By establishing classroom evaluation and incentive mechanisms, the substantive integration of both sides can be better promoted.

Magnesium Lithospermate B Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cell Progression Through JAK2-STAT3 Signaling.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The discovery of new effective therapeutic drugs is always a priority. Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB), a native polyphenol acid, is the major component of the aqueous extracts from Danshen, a traditional Chinese medicine derived from the dry root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza. MLB has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and ion channel-regulating activities in several diseases, including cardiovascular, renal, and neuronal diseases. However, the effect of MLB on cancer progression has not been reported. In this study, a series of cellular and molecular experiments were conducted on two CRC cell lines (HCT116 and SW480) to investigate the effects of. The results demonstrated that MLB exerted inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The administration of 50 mg/kg MLB inhibited tumor growth in HCT116 cells in xenografted models. Importantly, we found that MLB treatment inhibited the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway, and activation of JAK2-STAT3 signaling with interleukin 6 or overexpression STAT3 significantly suppressed the inhibitory effect of MLB. These findings provide evidence that MLB could inhibit CRC cell progression in vitro and might serve as a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of CRC.

Pharmacological Effects of Paeonia lactiflora Focusing on Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

AbstractPainful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a highly prevalent complication in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus. Given the inadequate pain-relieving effect of current therapies for PDN, there is a high unmet medical need for specialized therapeutic options. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), various herbal formulations have been implemented for centuries to relieve pain, and one commonly used plant in this context is Paeonia lactiflora (P. lactiflora). Here, we summarize the chemical constituents of P. lactiflora including their pharmacological mechanisms-of-action and discuss potential benefits for the treatment of PDN. For this, in silico data, as well as preclinical and clinical studies, were critically reviewed and comprehensively compiled. Our findings reveal that P. lactiflora and its individual constituents exhibit a variety of pharmacological properties relevant for PDN, including antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic activities. Through this multifaceted and complex combination of various pharmacological effects, relevant hallmarks of PDN are specifically addressed, suggesting that P. lactiflora may represent a promising source for novel therapeutic approaches for PDN.

Narrative Thinking of Healthcare Providers in Medical Cases of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Its Implications for Modern Medical Education

Abstract: In the context of Chinese narrative medicine, narrative thinking is as crucial as evidence-based thinking in clinical practice, contributing significantly to patient safety and medical quality. Ancient Chinese medical theories advocate for establishing a narrative connection with patients, prompting healthcare providers to employ Dao Shu Jie He (道术结合integration of Dao and techniques) and Yi Dao Yu Shu (以道驭术guiding techniques with Dao) in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. In this context, Dao (道) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) parallels “narrative thinking” (叙事思维) while Shu (术) aligns with “scientific thinking” (科学思维) in evidence-based medicine. This study takes “narrative Chinese medicine” in the “discourse system of Chinese narrative medicine” as its framework, focusing on medical stories that illustrate the application of narrative thinking in ancient Chinese diagnosis and treatment. It explores the narrative thinking contained in Chinese medicine, such as Guan Wu Qu Xiang (观物取象observing things and extracting information), Can He Er Xing (参合而行final examination and decision by integrating the four diagnoses), Xing Shen Bing Zhi (形神并治body-spirit treatment), Xin Shen Jian Li (心身兼理mind-body balance) and Bian Zheng Lun Zhi (辨证论治treatment based on pattern differentiation). The study aims to inspire contemporary medical educators and clinicians to recognize the value of narrative thinking in TCM and fully integrate it into daily medical practice.

From complexity to clarity: development of CHM-FIEFP for predicting effective components in Chinese herbal formulas by using big data.

The presence of complex components in Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) hinders identification of the primary active substances and understanding of pharmacological principles. This study was aimed at developing a big-data-based, knowledge-driven in silico algorithm for predicting central components in complex CHM formulas. Network pharmacology (TCMSP) and clinical (GEO) databases were searched to retrieve gene targets corresponding to the formula ingredients, herbal components, and specific disease being treated. Intersections were determined to obtain disease-specific core targets, which underwent further GO and KEGG enrichment analyses to generate non-redundant biological processes and molecular targets for the formula and each component. The ratios of the numbers of biological and molecular events associated with a component were calculated with a formula, and entropy weighting was performed to obtain a fitting score to facilitate ranking and improve identification of the key components. The established method was tested on the traditional CHM formula Danggui Sini Decoction (DSD) for gastric cancer. Finally, the effects of the predicted critical component were experimentally validated in gastric cancer cells. An algorithm called Chinese Herb Medicine-Formula vs. Ingredients Efficacy Fitting & Prediction (CHM-FIEFP) was developed. Ferulic acid was identified as having the highest fitting score among all tested DSD components. The pharmacological effects of ferulic acid alone were similar to those of DSD. CHM-FIEFP is a promising in silico method for identifying pharmacological components of CHM formulas with activity against specific diseases. This approach may also be practical for solving other similarly complex problems. The algorithm is available at http://chm-fiefp.net/.

At-Line LC-QTOF-ESI-MS/MS Fractionation of Impatiens balsamina Linn. Coupled With a Simple DPPH for Rapid Identification and Guided Isolation of Antioxidant.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ultraviolet (UV) light are significant factors to impair skin disorders. Impatiens balsamina Linn. (IB), a traditional Chinese and Thai herbal medicine, has long been used to treat skin and nail diseases, potentially due to its radical-scavenging properties. However, specific antioxidant compounds in IB have not been well defined. This work aims to rapidly identify, target, and isolate antioxidant biomarkers in IB using at-line LC-ESI-QTOF-(MS/MS) coupled with a simple DPPH assay and comprehensively investigate the antioxidant activities of IB extract and isolated biomarker. Following liquid chromatography (LC), the eluent of IB extract was split into two streams (9:1 ratio). The majority was fractionated for DPPH assay in 96-well plates, whereas 10% underwent chemical identification using ESI-QTOF-MS. Antioxidants in IB were identified, targeted, and promptly isolated through transfer from analytical LC to preparative HPLC. IB and the isolated biomarkers were evaluated for antioxidant effects using various antiradical assays and in suppressing ROS induced by UV in skin cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. Thirty-one chemical constituents were identified, with four tentatively identified as potent antioxidants. Kaempferol emerged as a potential antioxidant biomarker in IB, exhibiting superior antioxidant activity in various invitro assays compared with positive controls. Both IB extract and kaempferol effectively reduced UVB-induced ROS in skin cells. This study represents the first comprehensive identification of antioxidants and chemical constituents in IB, pinpointing kaempferol as a key antioxidant biomarker. Its rapid identification using at-line techniques holds promise for advancing bioactive compound discovery in herbal medicine.

The introduction of the concept of anxiety into China: a thematic historical study

IntroductionThis article presents a thematic historical study on the introduction of “anxiety” to modern China. Based on seminal research conducted previously by European scholars on histories of psychological and psychiatric concepts, this article reviews the itinerary of “anxiety” to China by using multiple types of textual evidence. Alongside a detailed description of how “anxiety” was translated and introduced, a comparison between the notions of “anxiety” in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western psychoanalytic approaches was made. The processes of how “depression” and “anxiety” were introduced to China were also compared.Materials and methodsThree types of textual evidence were meticulously analyzed. First, lexicographical works published since the 19th century were examined to trace the initial introduction and observe the standardized translation of “anxiety” in Chinese. Second, newspaper and periodical articles were analyzed to understand how knowledge of “anxiety” was communicated to the general public. Third, the evolution of psychological and psychiatric terminologies was observed through medical books.ResultsIt was found that “anxiety” was initially translated into various Chinese terms, with “jiaolyu” eventually emerging as the standardized term after 1949. The textual evidence showed that “anxiety” began to be acknowledged as a disease concept in the early 20th century, though it was not formally recognized as a diagnostic category until the late 20th century. This article also highlights the differences between the Western psychoanalytic view on anxiety and the Chinese folk conception of it.Discussion and conclusionsIt was observed that the introduction processes of depression and anxiety to China were similar, though their conceptual histories in the West showed much difference. The fading of neurasthenia marked a new era of psychiatric development in China, characterized by an enhanced specificity in the classification of mental disorders, which was never observed in the discourse about “xin feng,” a corresponding TCM notion of “anxiety.” The article also underscores the need for further exploration of corresponding TCM concepts of “anxiety” and the assimilation of Western psychiatric concepts in China.

Polygala tenuifolia root extract attenuates ischemic stroke by inhibiting HMGB1 trigger neuroinflammation

Polygala tenuifolia Willd., a famous traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely applied to treat central nervous system diseases. In this study, P. tenuifolia root extract exhibited a moderate anti-ischemic effect on in-vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model. In transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) rats, P. tenuifolia root extract significantly attenuated brain infarction and neurological deficits in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the sham group, the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)-HMGB1 in the ischemic brain was significantly higher, which was inhibited by P. tenuifolia root extract. To further explore such neuroprotective effects whether associated with aseptic inflammation, HMGB1-activated BV2 microglial cells model was established. The extract of P. tenuifolia was found to inhibit the downstream inflammatory response driven by HMGB1, with an IC50 value of 49.46 μg/mL. In addition, the extract was also found to be able to directly interact with HMGB1 in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiment. Phytochemical studies showed that the extract of P. tenuifolia root contains a large number of terpenoids, oligosaccharides and phenolic compounds, which likely contribute to the above observed biological activities. Our results not only provide some data support for the clinical application of P. tenuifolia against cerebral ischemia, but also clarify the potential target of P tenuifolia's anti-inflammatory properties.

20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol Alleviates DRP1-Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction in a Depressive Model In Vitro and In Vivo via the SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway

Depression is a complex and common mental illness affecting physical and psychological health. Panax ginseng C. A. Mey is a traditional Chinese medicine with abundant pharmacological activity and applications in regulating mood disorders. 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol is the major intestinal metabolite of ginsenoside and one of the active components in ginseng. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol on neuronal damage and depression, which may involve mitochondrial dynamics. However, the mechanism underlying the antidepressant effects of 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol is unelucidated. In the present study, we investigated the potential mechanisms underlying the antidepressant activity of 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol by employing a corticosterone-induced HT22 cellular model and a chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS)-induced animal model in combination with a network pharmacology approach. In vitro, the results showed that 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol ameliorated the corticosterone (CORT)-induced decrease in HT22 cell viability, decrease in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels, and increase in nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Furthermore, 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol exerted improvement effects on the CORT-induced increase in HT22 cell mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis. In vivo, the results showed that 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol ameliorated depressive symptoms and hippocampal neuronal damage in CUMS mice, and sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-1-Alpha (PGC-1α) activity were activated in the hippocampus of mice, thereby alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction and promoting the clearance of damaged mitochondria. In both in vivo and in vitro models, after inhibiting SIRT1 expression, the protective effect of 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol on mitochondria was significantly weakened, and dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1)-mediated mitochondrial division was significantly reduced. These findings suggest that 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol may exert neuroprotective and antidepressant effects by attenuating DRP1-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis by modulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.

The short-term prognosis of salvianolate use during hospitalization in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Background Salvianolate, derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is a traditional Chinese medicine known for its potential to promote blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis, often prescribed for cardiovascular system illnesses. This study aims to explore the impact of salvianolate treatment on the prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction during hospitalization. Methods This study included an acute myocardial infarction cohort from 71 secondary or tertiary hospitals between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2023. Patients were divided into NSTEMI and STEMI groups. Clinical outcomes included cardiac death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE, composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke) within 30 days. Cox multivariable regression analyzed the association between salvianolate use and outcomes in STEMI/NSTEMI patients. Propensity score matching (PSM) adjusted for demographic and clinical differences between salvianolate and non-salvianolate groups. The matching factors including sex, age, Killip class, previous diseases (diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and renal insufficiency), previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), in-hospital aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, lipid-lowering agents, nitrates, PCI, and thrombolytic therapy. Results A total of 76,157 STEMI patients and 74,373 NSTEMI patients were assessed. Among the STEMI group, 7,636 patients used salvianolate and 68,521 did not. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that salvianolate use during hospitalization reduced cardiac death (aHR = 0.707, 95%CI = 0.623-0.803, P &amp;lt; 0.001) and MACCE (aHR = 0.730, 95%CI = 0.651-0.820, P &amp;lt; 0.001) at 30 days. These findings remained consistent in the matched population (n = 15,264) (cardiac death: aHR = 0.669, 95%CI = 0.569-0.786, P &amp;lt; 0.001; MACCE: aHR = 0.679, 95%CI = 0.586-0.787, P &amp;lt; 0.001). In the NSTEMI group, 6,461 patients used salvianolate, while67,912 did not. After matching, salvianolate use during hospitalization showed no significant difference in cardiac death and MACCE compared to not use. Conclusions Patients with STEMI treated with salvianolate exhibited improved short-term cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes, while NSTEMI patients did not experience significant short-term prognosis enhancement.